Garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A GARMENT HANGER PROVIDED WITH A TOP HORIZONTAL PORTION AND A HANDLE WHICH IS MANUALLY ROTATABLE ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TOP HORIZONTAL PORTION. SAID HANDLE SUPPORTS A LATCHING PLATE AND A LATCHING ARM WHEREBY THE HANGER MAY BE DETACHABLY SECURED TO A SUPPORT MEMBER IN A SUITCASE OR THE LIKE WHEN THE HANDLE IS ROTATED TO POSITION THE LATCHING PLATE AND LATCHING ARM ABOVE THE GARMENT HANGER. THE HANDLE MAY BE ROTATED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TOP HORIZONTAL PORTION OF THE GARMENT HANGER TO POSITION THE HANDLE ABOVE THE TOP OF THE GARMENT HANGER SO THAT IT MAY BE READILY CARRIED OR MAY BE SUPPORTED IN A GARMENT CARRYING BAG. THE HANDLE IS SHAPED TO PROVIDE A LARGE ARC OR A LARGE RADIUS SO THAT THE FOUR FINGERS OR A PERSON&#39;&#39;S HAND CAN ENGAGE SAME AND BE CURLED AROUND IT TO PROVIDE A FIRM AND CONVENIENT HAND SUPPORT.

Nov. 7, 1972 M. l.. JAFFE GARMENT HANGER Filed Jn; El. 197.1

United Stes Patent @ffice 3,702,166 Patented Nov. 7, 1972 U.S. Cl.223-85 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A garment hanger provided witha top horizontal portion and a handle which is manually rotatable aboutthe longitudinal axis of the top horizontal portion. Said handlesupports a latching plate and a latching arm whereby the hanger may bedetachably secured to a support member in a suitcase or the like whenthe handle is rota-ted to position the latching plate and latching armabove the garmenthanger. The handle may be rotated about thelongitudinal axis of the top horizontal portion of the garment hanger toposition the handle above the top of the garment hanger so that i-t maybe readily carried or may be supported in a garment carrying bag. Thehandle is shaped to provide a large arc or a large radius so that thefour iingers of a persons hand can engage same and be curled around itto prov-ide a firm and convenient hand support.

BRIEF SUMMARY -OF THE INVENTION `One of the objects of this invention isto provide a garment hanger having a top horizontal portion and a handlewhich is adapted to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of saidhorizontal portion, with said handle supporting latching means wherebythe member may be positioned to lock said garment hanger to a supportmember or may be pivoted to a handle carrying position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment hanger which iseconomical to produce.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION 'OF THE DRAWINGS VIn the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the garment hanger of thisinvention with the handle in a carrying position.

FIG. 2 is a view with the handle rotated 180 from that shown in FIG. 1and with the latching means shown in latched position in dotted lines tosupport the hanger in a suitcase or the like.

FIG. 3 is a View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view of another type of support member usually found in afour-suiter case to which this invention may be attached.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the handle supported on a strap of the garmentbag, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the handle taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

The numeral 10 designates a conventional wire-shaped garment hangerwhich has a top horizontal central portion 12 with downwardly divergingsides 13 and a lower horizontal cross-member 14 integrally formed andshaped as described. The top horizontal portion 12 is circular intransverse section. The hanger is preferably made of ysubstantiallyrigid wire and the shape of same does not form a part of this inventionas various shapes may be used with equal facility.

Supported on the horizontal central portion 12 of the garment hanger isa member generally indicated at 16 which is rotatable about thelongitudinal axis of the horizontal portion 12. The member 16 which isintegrally formed preferably of a single metal stamping and, as viewedin the carrying position shown in FIG. l, comprises an arcuate-shapedhandle portion 18 which continues inwardly and downwardly at an inclinedangle to forma continuing lower portion 20 which is spaced from thearcuate handle portion 18. The continuing lower portion 20 has acontinuing downwardly extending portion 22 which is reversely bent toform side walls 24 and 26, with the lower portion of wall 26 curved asat 28 so that it ts around the horizontal wire section 12. The side wall24 of the extension 22 is substantially flat.

A flat latching plate, preferably made of metal, generally indicated at30, is secured adjacent the ilat side wall 24 by means of a rivet 32which passes through an opening in the latching plate 30 and alsoextends through suitable 'openings in the side walls 24 and 26. Therivet 32 thus secures the lower end of the handle around the horizontalportion 12 of the hanger and secures the latching plate thereto. Thelower end of the latching plate 30 has an elongated orrectangular-shaped cutout or slot 34 which communicates with a reducedcentral slot 36 opening outwardly of the plate.

A latching arm, also preferably made of metal and generally indicated at38, is pivotally secured by a rivet 39 to the latching plate 30. Saidlatching arm 38 and latching plate 30 have suitable openings toaccommodate the rivet 39. The latching arm 38 is shaped as best shown infull lines in FIG. 2 and is of a generally J-shaped configuration andcomprises an inclined portion 40 which continues land forms a bottomportion 42 and terminates in an upwardly extending portion 43, providinga space between the portion 40 and the upwardly extending portion 43.The latching arm 38 is manually engaged by engaging the portion 40 andpivoting it to latching or unlatching positions.

When the latching arm 38 is pivoted so that the bottom portion 42thereof extends across the reduced slot 36 of the latching plate 30, asshown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the latching plate will be latched toits support to hold the garment hanger to its support to prevent removaltherefrom. When pivoted to unlatching position, as shown in full linesin FIG. 2, it may be removed from its support.

The handle 18 is stamped to provide a rib 44 for strengthening it. Thehandle 18 is shaped to form a large arc or a large radius ofapproximately two inches so that the four fingers of a persons hand canengage same and be curled around it to provide a iirm and convenienthand support when carrying same. A plastic sleeve 46 is positionedaround the handle for added comfort when engaged by the hand.

The member 16, including the handle 1'8, is secured to the horizontalportion 12 of the garment hanger so that it may be rotated ou thelongitudinal axis of the horizontal portion 12 of the garment holder,from the position shown in FIG. 1 where it is positioned in a handcarrying position above the top of the garment hanger, to the positionshown in FIG. 2 where it is positioned below the top of the garmenthanger and in a position to expose the latching plate 30 above the topof the hanger so that it can be secured and latched to the conventionalhanger support found in suitcases or four-suiters. While the member 16is manually rotatable as described, there is suicient friction betweenthe parts to prevent a loose rotation and, hence, when member 16 isrotated it will stay in its rotated posit-ion until manually rotatedagain.

FIG. 2 shows in dotted lines a conventional wire frame 48 which iitsinto a suitcase and which supports a bracket 50 having a support post52. When the handle is turned be'low the top of the garment hanger, asshown in FIG. 2, the latching plate 30 has its slots exposed if thelatching arm 38 is pivoted as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. Thelatching plate 30 can then be inserted on the support post 52', afterwhich the latching arm 38 is pivoted to the closing position shown indotted lines` (FIG. 2) to lock the garment hanger to the support post tothus support the garment hanger with the clothes thereon. To release theIlatching means from the support post 52 the latching arm 38 is pivotedto the full line position (FIG. 2), after which it may be readilyremoved from the support post.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional support lbracket 56 found in a four-suitercase. The U-shaped bracket arm 58 has a recessed portion 59 at the topthereof which permits the open latching plate 30 to be inserted on thetop portion through said recessed portion 59 between the frontv of thebracket arm S8 and the bracket plate 57, after which the latching arm 38is pivoted to the closed position to latch it to the bracket 56.

FIGn shows the invention in relation to a garment bag 60. As shown, thehandle 18 would be positioned in a. hand carrying position upwardly ofthe top of the wire hanger. The handle engages a ilexible strap 62 whichis supported on the flexible handle 64 of the garment bag to supportsame.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment hanger 'having a top horizontal portion, a handle membersupported on said top portion and adapted to be rotated about thehorizontal axis of said horizontal portion, latching means secured tosaid handle member to permit latching and unlatching of said latchingmeans to a support, said handle member adapted to be rotated about thehorizontal axis of said horizontal portion to position said handle abovethe horizontal portion so that the garment hanger may be carried andwbepositioned below the top horizontal portion so that the latching meansis positioned above the top horizontal portion to permit latching to asupport, said handle meniber having an arcuate-shaped handle portionwith a radius of approximately two inches whereby the handle portion mayextend fully across a 'human hand so that four fingers of a human handmay be curled around said arcuateshaped portion to provide a rrn andconvenient hand support for carrying samesaid latching means includes alatching plate having a T-shaped opening which opens outwardly and al-shaped latching arm pivotally secured to said latching plate, saidlatching arm adapted to be manua'lly pivoted with respect to saidT-shaped opening to close the outward opening whereby said hanger issupported on a support by said latching plate when closed by saidlatching arm when said latching means is positioned above the tophorizontal portion of the hanger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,131,817 5/1964 Schenkler2'23-85 2,170,319 8/1939 Cantwell 223--88 3,112,050 11/1963 Eason 223-98JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 211-

